Housing structure



Feb; .15. 1927. 1,617,626

.1. M. FlTZ GERALD nousme smucwunn Filed July 23'. 1925 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 15 1927.

J. M. FlTZ GERALD HOUSING STRUCTURE Filed July 25. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN M. FIT-Z GERALD, OF RIVEB FQREST, ILLINOIS.

HOUSING STRUCTURE.

Application filed July 23,

These iniprovements relate to housing devices; ,An important application thereof 1s in connection with electrical installations, and notably inconnect-ion with electric signal and telephone installations v along the right-oit-way of rail-roads.

Since-the successful and safe operation of railroads depends upon the integrity of the signal system which. under present day conditions,'is complicated and subject to many destructive influences, there is a constant and widespread search for methods and means for sateguarding and'insuringthe operativenessot the system, and theprincipal Object or the presentimprovements is to provide means for furthering this end. More specifically it is an object to provide a housing structure in which may be consolidated a considerable number and. variety of electric instruments necessary. along the line in railway signaland telephone practice, and to provide a housing device oi? such form, arrangement and construction as 'to make possiblethe convenient installation, inspection, replacement, repair and use of the various instruments and their connections, with 0on ditions of satety'fl'onitlie weather and from unauthorized or mali'ciously inclined persons, and whereby through the centralization of such instruments 'ina relatively small space the time and labor of inspection, replacemenhjrepair, etc; are minimized. It" is an object to lprovide'a substantially low-cost, strong and durable "housing structure having such advantages and in a form which may relativelyeasily be installed, by compara tivelytew men, and .witl'ioutthe requirement of special hoisting machinery, thus saving much expense; andalso to provide'such a housing device which is otneat and attractive appearance, importantin such'rightotway work. p

Among the advantages 'ancl'obiects accomplished are the saving of much expense in installatlon and ot'inuch current expense 1n maintenance of the system and housing through the elimination of many scattered structures both above'andbelow the surface of the ground', with their many attendant 1 connections, thus substituting notable safety;

simpli cityand relatively low cost o f installation and subsequent maintenance for much hitherto complexity and wastage of time and money, and in the substitution also of no 1923. Serial No. 653,388.

t'ably great security for notable insecurity accordingto prior practice. U

Heretotoreit has been the custom to pro vide'hattery wells underground; to provide such devices as relays, lightningarresters, reetiliers. meters, switches, etc. on poles above grouncheach encased in some sort of protective housing, the instruments usually being ditticultly accessiblmexpensive in-both installation and maintenance due-to various causes, with the various apparatuses and their connections exposed to injury, either malicious or accidental, and notably to fir'e hazards due to conflagrations of nearby wooden structures, underbrush, e'tc., on the right-ot-way. Telephones have been instalied in "relatively large booths, at great cost; and, since the telephonesare required for'use by the maintainer of'the signal systemand is frequently thebest'means tor obtaining quick action, the location of telephone booths at widelyseparated intervals is particularly disadvantageous at thextime of emergency. It is an-objectof the present improvements to overcome all such objections'. It is an object to provide-a housing structure which may have all o f'the-advant'ages mentioned and which will not permit occupancyby aperson for various otherpuriposes than the legitimate ones for which the tageous form-0t supporting means for electrical instruments, a few of whichare shown merely for exemplification; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the upper end ofthe'device of Fig. 1 from the reverse or opposite'side thereotzshowinga door leading'to an :auX- iliary chamber within the main structure; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 L of Fig. 2-; li ig. 5 is a sectional view as on the line 5 5 ci -Fig. 2; Fig. Sis a fragmentary sectional view on the "line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig.7 is a sectional'view'as on theline7 7 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 isa fragmentary sec- Lil tional view of a supporting frame as on the line 88 of Fig. 5. a

My improved housing structure comprises a relatively long and narrow tubular body part which is shown as cylindrical from end to end. As made my me this body is of reinforced concrete, the metallic reinforcing 11 thereof extending from top to bottom and into the bottom and which reinforcing may be of any approved form. The body is pro vided with a roof or cover 12, also shown as being of reinforced concrete, the roof having an annular projection 13, Fig. 2, which seats upon the top of the body and is held in position by its own weight and its downwardly extending eaves. A ventilating duct 14 opening beneath the cover 15 provides ventilation for the hollow interior.

The body part 10 extends normallyabove ground while the body part 16 extends normally amat rially great distance below the ground surface. The part 16 adapted to extend below ground has its annular side walls preferably thickened to provide a strong annular ledge or seat at 17 for a removable cover 18 of planking, which corer constitutes the floor of the main structure, and, according to the construction or shelving illustrated, carries the weight of a considerable number of batteries and other instruments.

The bottom of the housing structure has a materially large opening at 20, but this opening is preferably not as great in diameter as that of the hollow interior of the subterranean well 1.. With an inwardly extending bottom wall 22 a better seat is had for the structure, .ii'nportant when it is positioned in soft or fairly soft earth. The opening 20 permits the application of filling and tamping tools from the inside of the structure whereby after the body is positioned in a hole dug for it its seat upon the earth at the bottom may be made firm in an easy and convenient way, and this construc tion also facilitates the vertical positioning of the housing structure as a whole on a solid seat. lVithout such a provision as the opening 20 the hole in the earth in which the device is positioned would have to be relatively large, and even then the best results in seating and vertically positioning the structure could not be obtained. With such an opening as 20 in the bottom of the body the hole in the earth may be only substantially large enough to permit the device to enter it. Ordinarily the opening 20 will not be required to be sealed, but if it should happen, for instance, that an undue amount of moisture is present in the earth at a particular installation this opening 20 may be filled with concrete well grouted to the main structure. A floor 23 of strips of wood is adapted to support batteries or other instruments, and this chamber 21. having a tight cover 18 constitutes a subterranean battery well which is well protected against frost. The front plank section 18, Fig. 7, may readily be lifted away to provide entrance to the well 21.

Openings 252 (Fig. 2) are preferably formed, by coring the concrete, for the admission of underground cables as 25, and after a cable is inserted the space between the cable and the wall at 24 is preferably packed, as with waste and asphaltum, to exclude moisture. l'Vooden plugs 26 are initially driven tightly into these holes 2%, and beyond the outer surface of the structure wall, and the space at 27, Fig. 2, filled either with concrete or some other moistureexcluding substance, the construction being such that a plug or plugs 26 may be knocked out from the inside of the structure should such an underground cable or cables be desired to be used.

In the form and construction adopted by me, and as illustrated, the main structure has an interior diameter in the main body part of thirty-six inches, the concrete wall thereof being one and one-half inches thick, the wall of the subterranean well part being three inches thick. The cylindrival shape provides the least resistance to the wind, and it also greatly facilitates handling since the structure may be rolled about by a few workmen and may be installed without special hoisting apparatus. It also makes for a neat and attractive appearance. It is also a simple form to produce.

The present housing device is designed to accommodate a considerable variety of electrical instruments in communication with signal wires carried by poles along the rightof-way and also connected in some instances to the track rails and with instruments otherwise positioned. The most convenient and advantageous way for leading wires from a considerable number of such instruments to the aerial line wires is by means of an aerial cable, such as 30. The length of such cable may be materially great and ordinarily it would be supported by a messenger wire 31 which is shown as being secured to an eye bolt 32 passing through the wall 10 near the top thereof. A downwardly-and-outwardly slanting hole 33 admits the cable to the interior of the structure near the top thereof and under the caves of the roof, this construction providing against the objectionable entrance of rain and snow at the opening 33. This opening 33 may be packed if desired. The weight of the cable ill) and messenger wire 31, together with accumulations of snow and ice thereon and the force of the wind upon them, tend to draw the structure out of its vertical position. A highly important feature of the construction in this connection is the provision of that materially largepart which extends below the surface the main structure.

of the ground whidh' is tightly embedded in the ground, and which thereby secures "and maintains the structure strongly in its established position, and gives the structure as a whole the character of a firinly-iinbedded osti This arrangement enables me in simple, cheap and otherwise highly advantageous ways to provide means for housing a large number and variety of instruments for-connection with line wires according to established and preferred usage, namely by leading a cable 'or cables orsingle wires from an elevated position aerially to their respective places of' connection with other aerial wires or devices.

Convenient means for supporting batteries and' instruments within the main housing structure :are shown as a Pa'iP'OT frames, Fig. 7, each having uprighjts34 and 36 and connecting pieces 37 with two boards 38 and 39 resting on the cross -.pieces-37. I have shown three tiers ot such shelving (Fig. 2). It will be noted from Fig. 7 that the board '38 is notched-at lt) to accommodate and form a lock for the two frame uprights '34, holding them in place, and that theboard 39 fits against the board 38 and also against the uprights36, and that the board 39 isnotched at 41 to form a lock which prevents the uprights '36 from moving toward each other.

The construction is such that the separate frames and'shelving boards may readily be assembled and locked in their=desired positions, and may be readily removed from time :to time as maybe desired. I

I also provide an instrument board comprising a pair of straps lt each formed with a hook-at the top'and hanging thereby upon a rod 45 resting at its ends in open seats' lfi recessed downwardly in the side wall 10 of v Boards 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 are shown-as being secured in spaced apart relation upon the "straps or hangers 44, as 'by bolts. These boards, extending to the curving sides of the 'body,hold the instrument board or ,panelas a whole in vertical position. The panel as a whole may be unhooked and thus be readily removed bodily for work uponthe instruments and their connections. It may also be swung upward and toward the doorway to some extentto provide access to' the rear thereof. The shelving may also be readily removed for any purpose. I have shown a few instruments such as a lighting arrester 52 and rectifiers 4:3 and 54 mounted on'this instrument board. A relay 55 and batteries 56 and 57 are shown as resting on the shelving.

An opening 59 adapted to accommodate a trunking box 60 is cored in the side wall 10 near the ground line for wires customarily carried in such conduits.

A sheet metal main door 62 is securely hinged to the side wall 10 and is provided with a hasp and staple connection for a paidlock by which the door may be locked. 'llhe relatively long "and narrow door '62 covers the doorway-shown by' dotted lines in Fig. 1

V and, thisentrance is sufficiently high to per spacewithtnthe housing for the body or 4' part of the body of the inspector or other person. it would be very inconvenient to enter the structure and close the door.

' There is thus provided a substantial check against the commission o-fserious and common nuisances within the booth by persons having access into it. I

. In the construction illustrated I have made :a special provision for various instrun'ients whereby the same 'may b'e examined and used without opening the mainfdoorGQ or otherwise gaining entrance/totheimain compartment. After the instruments in the main compartment areiusta l led they will ordinarily require only occasional attention or inspection and by special employees; It is highly desirable to preserve the ins "u-- ments in the main compartment from all possible interference, as well as from the weather, which is best accomplished by iaking unnecessary the opening of that compartment tor other purposes than actual.

attention to the instruments and their connections therein, and according to the prescnt invention in this respect these 'instru: ments are securely locked in :the main compartment and in the subterranean well not only against all unauthorized persons, but

means are provided whereby even authorizedemployees have only anocca'sional reason for opening'the main door To acl .fl 1 complisn this I have provided, ior lllOtGlS,

telephone, switches, etc, an an'Xiliar-y com- 'part-ment' fifi within the main compartment and formedby a metallic box-lik e structure '66 bolted to the inside o'fthe side wall 10, which side wall is provided with an openbig-67 closed by the hinged and p'ad locked i metallic door 68. The sightliness of the structure as a whole is preserved by placing the auxiliary compartment within the main structure, and these other instruments are thus also more securely housed.

I have thus shown means for consolidating a. large number and variety of electrical instruments in a relatively small space, and

so positioned as to be readilyaccessible, with the advantages of a subterranean bat tery well, and with all the instruments unusually seourely and strongly housed against interference, with convenient means for leading cables or other wires from the structure, with the structure maintained rigidly against tilting strains due to the weight of aerial line wires leading from the upper part of the device, with provisions for current inspection and use of certain instruments without opening the main compart ment, together with advantages in cost, installation and maintenance of an unusual kind, providing means for simplifying all features of practice in connection with the installation and maintenance of the electric system, greatly improving the safety of the system, and reducing the number of installations along the right-of-way, and in. many other ways well to be appreciated by those skilled in the art simplifying and improving what is perhaps the most delicate and important features of railroad practice.

I contemplate as being within this invention such changes, modifications and departures from what is herein specifically illustrated and described as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A relatively long and narrow tubular housing device of the character described having a roof and adapted to be positioned vertically and to extend upward from the ground to a materially great height, a side wall of the device having a relatively long and narrow upwardly extending doorway, a door for said doorway adapted to close the same tightly, the device having means near the top thereof for holding aerial electric wires, means for supporting electrical instruments within the device for ready accessibility through said doorway, walls forming an auxiliary compartment within the hollow interior of said housing above the ground, said auxiliary compartment having a doorway through a wall thereof, and a door and door-locking means for said last-mentioned doorway, a portion of said housing being adapted to extend a materially great distance below the surface of the ground and to constitute a subterranean well when the device is normally in use.

2. A relatively long tubular housing structure body of the character described formed as a unit, and having a roof formed as a unit and adapted to be applied after the body unit is erected, saidbody being adapted to be positioned vertically and comprising a part which extends upward from the ground a materially great distance and having a rigidly attached part adapted to extend a material distance below the surface of the ground, the part below the ground surface being adapted to constitute a subterranean well, a readily removable cover for said well, the walls forming said well being open to the earth at the bottom of the device. the side wall of the device having a doorway and a door therefor, and means for holding electrical instruments in that part of the device normally above the ground surface.

3. A combined battery well and instrument housing device of the character described having a relatively long tubular body part extending normally above ground a materially great distance, and a hollow part extending normally below the surface of the ground, a artition between said compartments, said partition being formed to provide access from the upper compartment to the lower compartment, the upper compartment having a doorway and .a door therefor, means within the hollow interior for holding electrical instruments readily accessible through said doorway when open, the upper compartment having an opening for an aerial cable or the like in the upper portionthereof, the bottom wall of the device being open to a materially large extent for tamping when the structure is being positioned in the earth, walls forming an auxiliary housing within the tubular body part and having an opening through a wall of said body part, and a door for said last-mentioned doorway.

4. A. housing device comprising a relatively long and narrow tubular structure adapted to be installed vertically in a hole in the ground and having a doorway and a door therefor, said structure having a bottom with a materially large opening therein for filling and tamping through said doorway.

JOHN M. FITZ GERALD. 

